Framingham High School Drama Company flying high with 'Mary Poppins' production

Sunday

Nov 5, 2017 at 12:10 PM

By Deborah E. Gauthier Correspondent

You can count on a few things if you’re in the audience at Framingham High School’s Performing Arts Center this month to see the Drama Company’s performance of “Mary Poppins” - the kids are talented, their teachers dedicated and all put their heart and soul into the production.

And if you go to the performance expecting a watered-down version of the original story - for instance, how in the world can a high school production have the technology and know-how to have someone floating effortless through the air - you’d be wrong.

This musical has it all.

According to Fine and Performing Arts director Donna Wresinski, the show will be “more than practically perfect” and that’s all because of the students.

“It takes all kinds of kids” to put on this kind of production, Wresinski said.

About 90 high school students and 15 elementary school students are involved in the production, on stage and behind the scenes.

“We have some for whom this is all they think about. They eat, breathe and sleep theater,’’ she said. “It doesn’t mean they are onstage either. We have many talented technicians who are incredibly dedicated.

“We also have many students who do this for the social aspect - to have fun, learn and become part of a very special group of kids,’’ she continued. “We don’t ever cut for our musical. If a student has interest and time and they audition, they are in. It gives us a large and diverse group of kids.’’

But it was time to take that leap, especially for theater teacher and producer Christopher Brindley.

“Mary Poppins” is something I grew up with,’’ Brindley said. It’s a movie he said he watched over and over again. He’s sure his parents have videos of him as a child dancing along with Bert the chimney sweep.

“It’s important for me to do the show. It’s a huge piece of my childhood,’’ he said. And it’s even sweeter that he’s directing the show this year because he turns 30 on Nov. 11, one of the performance nights.

The decision on what shows to produce is based on a theme for the year, Wresinski said, “and something we think will be exciting for the community and educationally exciting for the kids. It is important to me that the kids get a wide variety of musical and theatrical genres in their four years.’’

“Chris and I work together on the musicals and our festival competition play,’’ Wresinski said.

She and theater teacher Stephanie Henry agreed on Mary Poppins “because Chris has been bugging me for years to approve it. And since we are going to Disney in April to perform (along with the High School Marching Band) it seemed like the right year,’’ she said.

“Directing any musical with Chris is a lesson in intensity,’’ Wresinski said. “Directing a Disney musical is like intensity on steroids. He really loves the Disney magic. It is hard to be around him and not get caught up in the energy,’’ she said.

The “Mary Poppins” production took six months to bring to the stage, much of that time researching rental companies for costumes and props, which Wresinski said is critical to the success of the show.

Once the kids are involved, it becomes a “balancing act. We are always very clear that academics must come first. We need our kids to stay academically and physically healthy or the show can’t happen.’’

Amanda Fawell, a junior, plays the lead role. She took a few minutes away from rehearsal recently to talk about being chosen for the part. “I was overwhelmed. I really didn’t expect it,” she said. She credits her success to her ability to stay focused. In tryouts, “I try to stay positive and super focused,’’ she said.

She probably didn’t expect she’d be floating and flying in the role, but that’s exactly what she’s been doing during rehearsals. She flies in four scenes, and sings during one of them. She estimates she’s 30 feet in the air at one point. “I try to keep that number out of my head."

She laughed and said, “It’s easier for me to sing while flying than it is for Max (Max Connor playing the role of Bert the chimney sweet) to sing upside down.’’

She and Connor have been acting together since 7th grade. “Having a role like this, and playing opposite him, is like a dream,’’ she said.

Fawell said she’ll pursue an undergraduate degree and then perhaps go to New York and go to auditions “just to see if I can make it.”

Symphony Shea, a senior who plays Ms. Andrew in the musical, is vice president of the Drama Company. She went to see all the Drama Company shows when she was young. Becoming a member was a childhood dream, she said.

Ms. Andrew is the “evil nanny,’’ Shea said, a role she’s really enjoying. “I love the evil part,’’ she said with a hint of playful menace in her voice.

Shea has performed in six shows and worked behind the scenes on costumes for three. “I love both of them, but it’s fun being on stage, being with them,’’ she said. She hopes to study musical theater in college.

Wresinski said students rehearse four days a week from 2:30 to 5:30 until the last two weeks when there are some night rehearsals or afternoons that run later than 5:30. But even then, the kids are given time to do homework, go home, rest, and see teachers. “We encourage them to use that time wisely,’’ Wresinski said.

However, right now, with the show just days away, “it’s all hands on deck,’’ she continued.

Not only is the musical a way to showcase what the students are learning, the production is a fundraiser to help pay the expenses of a trip to Florida.

Wresinski said 108 teachers and students, members of the Drama Company and Marching Band, are performing in Florida in April.

“We are trying to lower the cost of the student ticket by $220 per student. We need about $22,000 to do that,’’ she said.

She estimates the production costs are about $35,000, the biggest budget in her career. “We need to sell every ticket to break even. We want to keep ticket prices reasonable and we want to bring the most Disney to the stage that we can,’’ she said.

She is confident.

“Chris and I are so excited about this show. We know it will be more than Practically Perfect - it will be supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!’’ said Wresinski. Brindley agreed. “It’s a pretty magical show.’’

Performances at Framingham High School Performance Center, 115 A St., Framingham, are scheduled Nov. 10, 11, 17 and 18 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $13 online (www.showtix4u.com) or $18 at the door. Seats are reserved and seating is limited so purchasing tickets online in advance is advised.